GE and Mitsubishi seal deal on steam turbines

GE Energy, a division of General Electric Co., and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. have signed a final agreement to jointly develop the next generation of steam turbines to be used in combined-cycle power plants.

Combined-cycle plants use gas turbines to generate power, with the excess heat used to power a steam turbine that makes extra electricity. The use of the two types of turbines are considered to be more efficient because less energy is wasted in the process.

GE Energy’s current generation of steam turbines are made in Schenectady. Under the terms of the agreement, which was first announced in January, the GE and Mitsubishi will take the designs they make and manufacture the units separately.